Deuteronomy 20

1WhenH3588 you go outH3318 to warH4421 againstH5921 your enemiesH341 and seeH7200 horsesH5483, chariotsH7393, and an armyH5971 largerH7227 than yoursH4480, do notH3808 be afraidH3372 of them; forH3588 the LORDH3068 your GodH430, who brought youH5927 out of the landH776 of EgyptH4714, is with youH5973. 2When you are about toH1961 goH7126 intoH413 battleH4421, the priestH3548 is to come forwardH5066 and addressH1696H413 the armyH5971, 3sayingH559 to themH413, “HearH8085, O IsraelH3478, todayH3117 youH859 are goingH7131 into battleH4421 withH5921 your enemiesH341. Do notH408 be faintheartedH7401H3824 or afraidH3372; do notH408 be alarmedH2648H408 or terrifiedH6206 because of themH6440. 4ForH3588 the LORDH3068 your GodH430 goesH1980 with youH5973 to fightH3898 for you againstH5973 your enemiesH341, to give you the victoryH3467.”

5Furthermore, the officersH7860H413 are to addressH1696 the armyH5971, sayingH559, “Has anyH4310 manH376 builtH1129 a newH2319 houseH1004 and notH3808 dedicated itH2596? Let him returnH1980H7725 homeH1004, orH6435 he may dieH4191 in battleH4421 and anotherH312 manH376 dedicate itH2596. 6Has anyH4310 manH376 plantedH5193 a vineyardH3754 and notH3808 begun to enjoy its fruitH2490? Let him returnH1980H7725 homeH1004, orH6435 he may dieH4191 in battleH4421 and anotherH312 manH376 enjoy its fruitH2490. 7Has anyH4310 manH376 become pledgedH781 to a womanH802 and notH3808 married herH3947? Let him returnH1980H7725 homeH1004, orH6435 he may dieH4191 in battleH4421 and anotherH312 manH376 marry herH3947.”

8Then the officersH7860 shall speakH1696 furtherH3254 toH413 the armyH5971, sayingH559, “Is anyH4310 manH376 afraidH3373 or faintheartedH7390H3824? Let him returnH1980H7725 homeH1004, so that the heartsH3824 of his brothersH251 will notH3808 meltH4549 like his ownH3824.”

9

When the officersH7860 have finishedH3615 addressingH1696H413 the armyH5971, they are to appointH6485 commandersH6635H8269 to lead itH7218H5971.

10WhenH3588 you approachH7126H413 a cityH5892 to fightH3898 against itH5921, you are to make an offerH7121H413 of peaceH7965. 11IfH518 they acceptH6030 your offer of peaceH7965 and openH6605 their gates, allH3605 the peopleH5971 there will becomeH1961 forced laborersH4522 to serveH5647 you.

12But ifH518 they refuseH3808 to make peaceH7999 with youH5973 and wageH6213 warH4421 against youH5973, lay siegeH6696 toH5921 that city. 13When the LORDH3068 your GodH430 has delivered itH5414 into your handH3027, you must putH5221 everyH3605 maleH2138 to the swordH6310H2719. 14ButH7535 the womenH802, childrenH2945, livestockH929, and whateverH3605 else isH1961 in the cityH5892—allH3605 its spoilH7998—you may take as plunderH962, and you shall useH398 the spoilH7998 of your enemiesH341 thatH834 the LORDH3068 your GodH430 givesH5414 you. 15This is howH3651 you are to treatH6213 allH3605 the citiesH5892 that are far awayH7350 from youH4480H3966 and do notH3808 belong to theH428H2007 nations nearbyH1471.

16HoweverH7535, in the citiesH5892 of theH428 nationsH5971 thatH834 the LORDH3068 your GodH430 is givingH5414 you as an inheritanceH5159, you must not leave aliveH3808H2421 anythingH3605 that breathesH5397. 17ForH3588 you must devote them to complete destructionH27631—the HittitesH2850, AmoritesH567, CanaanitesH3669, PerizzitesH6522, HivitesH2340, and JebusitesH2983—asH834 the LORDH3068 your GodH430 has commanded youH6680, 18so thatH4616 they cannotH3808 teachH3925 you to doH6213 allH3605 the detestable thingsH8441 they doH6213 for their godsH430, and so cause you to sinH2398 against the LORDH3068 your GodH430.

19WhenH3588 you lay siegeH6696 toH413 a cityH5892 for an extendedH7227 timeH3117 while fightingH3898 against itH5921 to capture itH8610, you must notH3808 destroyH7843 its treesH6086 by puttingH5080 an axeH1631 to themH5921, becauseH3588 you can eat their fruitH398. You must notH3808 cut them downH3772H3588. Are the treesH6086 of the fieldH7704 humanH120, that you should besiege themH935H6440H4692? 20ButH7535 you may destroyH7843 the treesH6086 thatH834 you knowH3045H3588 do notH3808H6086 produce fruitH3978H1931. Use them to buildH1129 siege worksH4692 againstH5921 the cityH5892 thatH834H1931 is wagingH6213 warH4421 against youH5973, untilH5704 it fallsH3381.